nd the finest wedding of the season! and a year's European
travel! and how the Greyson, and the Helper, and the Manton girls will
envy me! and lots of others--and Dick! I do not care a cent for Dick!
he sneaked away like a dog when Antony spoke to me. I hate Dick! I
shall never notice him again. He will doubtless get an invitation to
my wedding from some one, and if he feels heart-sick, it will serve
him right."

To this soliloquy she slowly mounted the stairs to her room, and there
she stood a few minutes, considering. The result of this reflection
was the withdrawal from her drawers of an exquisite gown of pale gray
cashmere, and a little tippet of Delhi mull and Valenciennes lace. The
ineffable softness and repose of this combination pleased her. "I look
my sweetest in this gown," she thought, "and Antony has never seen it;
but it will suit him, I know."

Indeed, the dress affected Antony like a contrition and a confession.
She looked, oh! she looked everything he could desire or imagine!
And as Rose was always sensibly affected by the dress she wore,
she naturally toned herself to her lovely and gentle appearance. The
dress was in every way a fortunate one. It put Rose in the proper
mood, and it gave Antony the proper courage. The one advantage
reacted on the other; and Rose suffered her heart and her best
instincts to lead her. For Antony brought to this question all the
force of his character; he pleaded eloquently, with love in his eyes
and on his tongue; nor did he neglect such material advantages as his
wealth and his ability to grant her every one of her wishes gave
him. He was perhaps disappointed that they had so much influence; but
he was a patient, self-relying man, and he told himself that he
must be grateful for Rose as she was, and trust to the future for
the Rose that he foresaw as possible.

So he took things on their present level, and talked so enthusiastically
that Rose caught the mood from him, and their happy faces, leaning
towards each other, shone with the thought of the joy before them. For
Antony's desire--like all strong hopes--had fulfilled itself by its
own energy. His love found its way to his face and to his gestures,
made him expressive and impressive, and gave him that quality few can
resist, which we call "presence."

So they knew not how time went, until Mrs. Filmer came home, weary and
cold and heart-anxious from a round of profitless shopping and visits.
The first glimpse of t